A/N: I’m thinking this will be a A/H fic. Not sure quite yet. Warning: Ships to change without notice.
Holly glided through the waters of Haven’s only swimming pool. She felt water in her ears, and was slightly irritated. Holly spun from her back to her stomach, then stood. She tilted her head to one side, and shook it. Then the other side. No more water. The sounds of the pool came rushing back to meet her, and she ducked her head under. She loved the peace and quiet the water had to offer.

“If only I had gills.” she thought to herself. Then laughed. She accidently inhaled water, and and coughed. Then she inhaled more water, and burst to the surface, coughing. She spat the water from her mouth, regained her breath, and ducked under one more time. She had places to go after swimming.
Had Holly not been a member of the LEP, Holly would have devoted her time to swimming, perhaps of joined the Fairy Olympic Swim Team. Okay, maybe not that drastic, but she would have spent all day at the pool. Holly swam to the nearest ladder, and climbed out.

Haven’s pool was the fanciest pool in all of Below Ground. The fanciest, the prettiest, and the most expensive. It was also the only pool. If it wasn’t for the free memberships for LEP officers, Holly wouldn’t be able to afford it.
She was met by a towel boy.

“Good evening, Ms. Short. I hope your stay here was pleasurable, and I hope I’ll see you soon.” Holly kindly excepted the towel.

“Thank you. You can call me Holly.” Holly knew he wouldn’t call her Holly. It was part of their job requirements. You must never call a client by their first name. Holly smiled, and headed toward the locker room.

There was no one in the locker room. She went to her locker, typed in the code, and retrieved her ring phone automatically. She checked for messages. Artemis Fowl, Artemis Fowl, Artemis Fowl, Artemis Fowl, Artemis Fowl, and, of course, Artemis Fowl. Why had Artemis called her so much? She replayed the first couple of messages.

“Hello, Captain Short, er, Holly.” Holly sighed. “I know you don’t want to hear all the details of my personal life, but I won’t tell Butler, and Myles and Beckett have already reported all of it to Mother. They managed to hack my computer and read my, eh, diary.” Holly laughed. His twin brothers were as smart as he. “Anyway, since, as I said, I’m not telling Butler, and Foaly would post it all over Haven, I will tell you. I went on a “date” with Minerva.” Holly sat heavily on one of the chaise lounges in the locker room. She sank into the plush fabric. Artemis had gone on a date. With Minerva? She listened to the rest of the message with a strange feeling in her gut.

He had gone to an Italian place with her. Then ballroom dancing. And then swimming. And then he had personally escorted her home.

“I guess that can’t be considered a date.” he had finished. Holly, in her frustration, tossed the phone onto the floor. It didn’t even scrape off paint. Stupid Foaly and his stupidly stupid undestructable junk. There were more messages. She picked up the phone again. She figured the last one would be okay.

“Hello, Holly.” Artemis now sounded sad. A childlike hope prickled in Holly. Could this sadness be good for her?
“Minerva and I have decided to go different ways. I’ll tell you the entire story in person, if you want.” Holly stopped the message. She ran back to her locker, threw on her clothes, and left the swimming pool. She headed straight for Section Eight HQ.

“Foaly, I need a surface pass.” she said.

“What, no ‘Hello Foaly, how are you doing’ or ‘You’re so smart and thoughtful, Foaly’?” Holly sighed.

“Hello, I need a surface pass or Tara. Now, Horsey boy.” Holly was not in the mood for Foaly’s stupid jokes. Foaly sighed, and cleared her.

“E1 in ten minutes. Take a set of wings and a CamBand. Fly to your Mud Boy, Short.” Holly didn’t respond. She was getting the feeling that Foaly could read minds.

It was midnight on the surface. Holly’s wings worked like a charm. She was getting to Fowl Manor in half the time that the old models would take.

When Fowl Manor loomed before her, she stopped flying. What would she say? She decided she would just say what came to her. She flew to Artemis’ window. She was surprised to see a light still on. Artemis wouldn’t be awake unless he was working on something big. He was just reading. It looked like “Gone With The Wind”. Holly laughed she had read that book too. Scarlett was such an idiot. He was still completely dressed. It would have been awkward if he had been in his pajamas.

She tapped on his window, and he looked up.

“I’ve been expecting you. Foaly called.” Holly nodded. That was predictable. She didn’t enter.

“Oh, yes. Come in.” Holly laughed.

“You don’t have to invite me anymore. I can just come in.” Artemis chuckled.

“Oh yes, I remember that.” Artemis opened the window a little wider, and Holly flew in. She took her helmet off. Her long hair fell out of it. Artemis questioned.

“Everyone think that it looks nicer long. I got fed up with constantly cutting it.” Holly sat on Artemis’ bed, and picked up the book.

“I like the movie better. Never been much for reading.” There was an awkward silence. Holly played with her long hair, and Artemis stood by the window.

“I’m, eh, sorry about you and Minerva.” Holly said.

“No, you’re not. And neither I am.” Holly looked up. Artemis was looking at her in a queer way. He moved closer to her, and sat on the bed. Holly turned her eyes to him, and saw that he was looking at her.

“You’re right, I’m not. I was so jealous when I heard your message, Artemis.” Artemis nodded. Holly looked away.

“Holly.” she turned her head back. She leaned to him. Their lips touched, and sparks erupted from their locked lips. Holly closed her eyes. Artemis’ were wide opened. He was shocked at himself. A million thoughts ran through his head. She’s an elf, I’m a human. She eighty something, I’m nineteen. She lives in the Earth, I live above it. She’ll disgrace her kind.

Holly head froze. She felt that wonderful rush of magic. Thoughts scuttled around her head like ants. Artemis was kissing me. He’s a human. I’m sitting on “Gone With The Wind”.

Holly left immediately after, without a word to Artemis. She pulled on her helmet. Foaly greeted her.

“That was a short visit. What happened? I told him you were coming.”

“Nothing. Nothing happened. Foaly, I’m going to take a leave. A week long leave. I need some time.” Foaly nodded.

“Have fun.”

Some other stories by Minerva Paradizo:

• "You Are Formally Invited" Update and Warnings! (May Contain Little Spoilers)
• You Are Formally Invited...
• Five Regrets (Five Times Challenge)
• Checkmate
• How Opal Koboi Became Evil